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Intro

Wikipedia description of ‘Roger’ from American Dad!

Issue 75.9 Molly Shannon, Editor-in-Chief editorinchief@lbunion.com Alfred Pallarca, Managing Editor alfredp.union@gmail.com Connor O’Brien, Art Director connor.union@gmail.com Trevor Desrosiers, Advertisting Executive advertising@lbunion.com Eduardo Vargas, Distribution Manager distribution@lbunion.com

ART & DESIGN

By Molly Shannon

Rose Feduk, Illustration Editor rosef.union@gmail.com

A couple of really important things happened this week. First of all, Wednesday was a momentous occasion, as it was the deadline to apply to graduate. I, along with several others, ventured to Brotman Hall to take care of the dark deed around 12:30, and was greeted with a line so long it made me want to curl up like a scallop and rock back and forth hugging my knees. But alas, I’ve done it—I’m going to be walking in solidarity with my peers this spring. I’ve taken the next step, and I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life. I’m also ready to be showered in confetti—I was at last year’s ceremony and it looked like all the grads thoroughly enjoyed this. Second, I had a dream in which, for some ridiculous reason, records indicated I never completed the fourth grade, and therefore had to go back to elementary school and redo the entire year—and it wasn’t easy. You have to

Abdallah Seoud, Assistant Art Director abdallah.seoud@gmail.com Michael Tewasart, Assistant Art Director tewasartm@live.com Truc Nguyen, Web Manager web@lbunion.com

EDITORIAL Heather Sandburg, Opinions Editor opinions@lbunion.com Veronica Craft, Community Editor community@lbunion.com Jacky Linares, Athletics Editor Elizabeth Nguyen, Athletics Editor athletics@lbunion.com Renee Schmiedeberg, Arts Editor arts@lbunion.com

Illustration by Rose Feduk understand; one day I was listening to lectures about Marxist theories and psychoanalysis, and the next I was back to multiplication tables and sedimentary rocks! Tragically beautiful. The hardest part of my radical adjustment had to do with making friends again. I did some questionable things to win the respect of the other nine-year-olds, like shoot chocolate milk out of my nose, and give away my Tinkerbellthemed colored markers. I’m pretty sure the ludicrousness of this nightmare was due to a subconscious fear that something will go terribly wrong and I won’t be able to graduate. Or maybe I’m just scared to graduate in general, I have no idea. I do know that leaving school is going to bring many stresses. We’ll have to embark on a series of apartment hunts, job searches, and decide how to decorate our graduation caps. Should we spell out a witty quote in glitter? Cover the

top of the hat with stickers? Maybe attach little Shrek ears? Big decisions are going to be made. In addition, this week we at the Union began Mic night at the Nugget. Regardless of whether there Tuesday, October 28 from 6pm to 9pm. There will be entertainment, food, fun, and even prize opportunities! It’ll be a night to remember. Catch ya later, Molls

comedians, spoken word poets, interpretive dancers, and the like. Email info@lbunion.com for details.

Katie Cortez, Entertainment Editor entertainment@lbunion.com Sam Winchester, Music Editor music@lbunion.com Camille Hove, Lifestyle Editor lifestyle@lbunion.com Chrissy Bastian, Literature Editor literature@lbunion.com Alfred Pallarca, Travel Editor alfredp.union@gmail.com Beatriz Villa, Food Editor food@lbunion.com Gumby, Grunion Editor grunion@lbunion.com Michael Wood, Senior Editor mwood.union@gmail.com COPY & ASSISTANT EDITORS Jonathan Gutierrez, Joel Martinez ADVERTISING SALES INTERN Jacqueline Simon STAFFERS & CONTRIBUTORS Codi Georges, Marissa Gomez, Eric Reid, Hanna Suarez, Indigo Vu, Amal Molly Osman, Mena de Ariño, John Smith, Madison Dunning, Cole Hughey, Kamille Garcia, Mario Lopez, Bailey Mount, Janea Wilson, Sarah Towler, Jonathan Murrietta CONTACT US Long Beach, CA 90815 E-mail: info@lbunion.com

Disclaimer and Publication Information: The Union Weekly is published using ad money and partial funding provided by the Associated Students, Inc. All Editorials are the opinions of their individual authors, not the Union Weekly, ASI nor CSULB. All students are welcome and encouraged to be a part of the Union Weekly staff. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication. However, CSULB students will have precedence. Please include name and major for all submissions. They are subject to editing and will not be returned. Letters may or may not be edited for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and length. The Union Weekly will publish anonymous letters, articles, editorials, and illustration, but must have your name and information attached for our records. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 500 words. The Union Weekly assumes no responsibility, nor is it liable, for claims of its advertisers. Grievance procedures are available

Opinions

Not Joking Around Coming Out Day is still needed By Hanna Suarez Illustration by Eva Grello National Coming Out Day took place on October 11. That week, some members of CSULB’s Queers and Allies set up camp on the South Campus lawn and presented a large “Coming Out” board to attract student participation. They gave me some colorful duct tape (because as long as there are rainbows, it is empowering and supportive) and markers. They said I could come out as whatever I wanted. Now I didn’t need to utilize this board; I do not have this inner frustration, I don’t have this big secret with no one to tell— mostly because I’ve become comfortable with coming out. I’ve come out to dozens of people and will probably continue to come out to dozens more—which is not to say that an anonymous and welcoming list like this would be really reassuring to MOGAI (marginalized orientations, gender identities, and intersex) advantage—but nevertheless I was excited. I thought, “Hell yeah, I’ll participate in as many Coming Out activities as I can!” the members, they told me—in addition to saying I could come out as whatever I

wanted—that many people had come out as “feminist,” “bitch,” or “slut.” Along with these “identities,” the board shamelessly displayed such absurdities as “Kanye West” and “Slender man.” If you don’t see a problem with this, then you are part of the problem. So, I’m upset. I’m upset, and I’m shy, but I take a deep breath. I point out that the idea of “coming out” referring to anything other than marginalized identities is problematic. I don’t even rant; I still give them a chance to redeem themselves. They have nothing to say to me. They give me a regrettable look, and try to tell me that making it all inclusive is better and allows more people to participate. Do you know what Coming Out Day is? Here’s the thing—feminism and what it has to say about owning your sexuality and being unapologetically you is so important, not only to people with marginalized identities, but to our movement as well. It intersects every day. We have queer theory and queer feminism—really great stuff that you need to read about. And right now we are seeing an attack on feminism; feminists regardless of their gender, but mainly women, are being targeted by misogynists and “men’s rights activists.” Women are receiving death threats—it

is a big deal. Nevertheless, Coming Out Day is not “Feminist Awareness Day.” And in regards to the people who tried to come out as Yeezy or Yonce, or plant-kin or Whovian or any other fandom— there is really not much explaining to do—it is downright disrespectful. No, I won’t lighten up about that and I know many others will agree. So, what now: it is a joke? How about this—people with marginalized identities have been murdered for coming out. So really, how dare you make some sort of parody out of this day just so you can be that funny guy? Coming Out Day is about remembering those who were silenced because they decided to speak up. Coming Out Day is about marginalized communities helping each other out because, as allies should know, some people cannot come out. Some people have abusive families; some

house. No one wants to be a headline on the Coming Out Day exists because people with marginalized identities are NOT included in the general population. How are you going to say that making it all-inclusive is a positive thing? Make it all inclusive within the community because not everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community recognizes trans or asexual identities. But please, don’t give me that nonsense about all-inclusiveness. Saying something like that is so disrespectful and hurtful, especially to people who were bullied in grade school, who were alienated, etc. Letting people with marginalized identities have a day for ourselves is not a bad thing because sticking with each other is what we’ve been doing. I write on the board, “Coming Out Day is for marginalized identities, only.”

We Are Who We Are Society should accept and welcome us all The end of Coming Out Day usually means celebrations and pride, except for the people who don’t come out whether by choice or otherwise. Coming out is an extremely brave decision and should be supported; however, support should be offered to those who can’t come out. We as a society see coming out as a huge deal (and it is) but only because of the assumption that everyone is cisgender and

heterosexual by default. Our society operates

an explicit confession. This often leads to the erasure of closeted people who cannot afford to come out. By now, everyone knows the risks: bullying, isolation, getting kicked out, losing friends and family, assault, and being murdered. It’s unfortunately too common

a narrative to hear of LGBTQIA+ youth go through these trials after coming out. No wonder people who are just figuring out their gender or sexuality are afraid – and rightly so. It’s important that we as a community welcome those who do not come out with open arms. Sometimes you just can’t, no reason or justification is needed. So, this is for you.

By Indigo Vu You matter. You are real. Your gender and sexuality are yours even if only a few people or no one else knows. That’s okay. That’s your choice. If and when you come out, it should be on your terms, when you feel safe and comfortable. You matter. Believe me, you matter.

Opinions

It’s a Woman’s World

By Elizabeth Nguyen Illustration by Rose Feduk

Some Major Misconceptions Don’t judge me based on what I choose to study

Union Weekly that Union Weekly

By Heather Sandburg

Community

Decolonizing: The AntiViolence Movement An overview of Dr. Andrea Smith’s lecture at the Beach Auditorium

Renee Schmiedeberg

By Renee Schmiedeberg This past Wednesday morning, while the rest of us were sleeping in and dreaming our little postColumbian dreams, Dr. Andrea Smith gave a radical lecture on methods of decolonizing in our world today. Easily over 200 people

Dr. Smith mentioned Native Americans with disabilities and people of color with disabilities, are more likely not to graduate from their schools or even get expelled. Those few who do end up graduating often have a

were there for various reasons. The lecture by a student from the Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Department: “They have always known you were not a mule. They have always known that no one wishes to be a slave.” Currently an associate professor for Media & Cultural Studies at UC Riverside, Dr. Andrea Smith concentrates her work on Native American Women. She has written two books, Native Americans and the Christian Right and Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide, and edits for several anti-violence activist publications such as The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: The Color of Violence, the Incite! Anthology. acknowledging the subtle oppression that everyone encounters today. These come in the form of micro-agressions and just a few common ones can be heard as seemingly harmless intonations of, “stop acting like a little girl and man up.” It can be said that these subtle ways of oppression and perpetuation of destructive ideas are even more damaging due to their inconspicuous nature. In this way, many stereotypical ideas about groups of people are spread widely and often, largely undetected.

of Native Americans, Dr. Smith said something crucial--that one cannot look at genocide without looking at racism, sexism, classism, etc. A myriad of women of color have been sentenced to prison for years that would take up most of their lives for acts that were not even crimes. Smith gave the example of Marissa Alexander, who was sentenced to 60 years in prison for invoking Florida’s Stand instead of at her abusive husband, when he charged at her. of our current prisons to transform those in them and to keep the innocent out of them. In situations of danger, Smith said, we shouldn’t be asking ourselves to choose between the police or someone else. We should be asking ourselves: “Why is the police our only option?” Smith emphasized an idea that encompasses her whole lecture: collective thinking. What we need to do now is collectively form creative interventions and creative ways to hold people accountable. We have a lot of creative minds around collectively about these issues, we can create new systems to ensure safety and true justice.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Professor Juan Cole discusses ISIL in Iraq

By Codi Georges

Auditorium seats about 236 people. On Thursday, October 16, Professor Juan room was left 10 minutes before the lecture began. Professor Cole was at California seminar on “ISIL In Iraq: Fundamentalist Takeover or Urban Ethnic Revolt?” Cole, a History Professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, wrote The New Arabs: How the Millennial Generation is Changing the Middle East. He was even selling his book at the seminar for a discounted price, just for attendees. The Middle Eastern Studies Program organized the event, with the help of the History Department and the History Students’ Association. It was sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts.

Although some students may have only been attending the event for class participation, Professor Cole kept the crowd entertained and laughing with his witty remarks. He gave in-depth background information on ISIL, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Levant is a part of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is comprised of a number of countries. This should not be confused with ISIS, which is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Although ISIS and ISIL have been everywhere in the news lately, many people are only familiar with their public executions of American journalists. Professor Cole did a great job of shedding light on what is really going on with ISIL.

Athletics

“I feel like you don’t know the value of where you live until you visit other places...”

From the Sands of Saudi to the Sands of LB A study abroad student’s experiences with a new sport — lacrosse

By Marissa Gomez

the CSULB Men’s Lacrosse team this year,

Moe expressing his school spirit alongside Prospector Pete

Always Sitting on the Bench Kim Ng has been overlooked for too long

Kim Ng, current Senior Vice President for Baseball Operations with Major League Baseball and the highest ranking Asian American female baseball executive

By Jacqueline Simon

Arts

Strutting In Style Incentives for joining CSULB Students in Fashion club By Kamille Garcia Whether you are a fashion student or not, there is no denying that everyone, (particularly the college crowd) is stylish and unique in their own way. You may be the type who is pretty in pink, the stud in black, the classic minimalist, the boho lover, the edgy Californian, or the I-will-never-wear-jeans type. whatever you are, there will always be this sacred CSULB Students In Fashion Rule: all styles are accepted, as long as it represents you. Sweet, right? Here are three master persuasions we have composed (and they are all true) to help you come to the realization that you belong in the SIF Community: It’s fun and it’s for everyone (cliché, but true). Each member will get to face themselves through clothes, personal style and by simply being themselves without for fashion students, individuals informed construction or wealthy individuals who can All are welcome and encouraged to join the fun. Make friends and become besties with amazing people with similar interests. We host tons of fashion related events and activities. These events help trend setters become involved in fashionrelated activities, mold them to be more knowledgeable about how the fashion industry works and how swiftly trends dip in and out of popularity. Furthermore,

and activities are One Big Happy TV tapings, Sewing Circles, and Modeling for the Union Weekly fashion articles “#OOTW”. We have connections to professionals and companies that are working in fashion. For anybody seeking internships or jobs, the talents and creativity. Meetings are in USU-306 every Wednesday at 12:30pm to 1:30pm!

(Members of Students In Fashion gather before a riveting meeting to bounce ideas and create new, exciting things (top); several SIF advocates present their tactfully chosen features (right)

Place Your Bets

FEATURE

A step into the intricate world of horse racing

It’s called the “sport of kings” where the main athletes are horses—thoroughbred racehorses. They are majestic, muscular, mighty, and magnanimous. In this sport, jockeys are not people who play recorded music; they are the extremely gifted passengers of the horse. Fans cheer wildly from the stands, hoping the This is a sporting event—emphasis on ‘event.’ At premier racetracks across the country, including Southern California’s Santa Anita Park and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it’s about horses thundering on the racetrack. It’s about the energetic gamblers looking to make thousands. It’s about wearing festive hats and dressing snazzy. It’s about witnessing a spectacle. Welcome to the sport of horse racing.

Words & Photos by Jonathan Murrietta Cover Image by Connor O’Brien

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FEATURE

On October 31 and November 1, 2014, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia (about 40 minutes from Cal State Long Beach) will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The Championships are the Olympics of the horse racing world. Each year, tracks throughout the country. The fastest thoroughbred racehorses in the world come to run in the richest races. Some races are long (around one mile); others are short, like the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, which is run over the distance of six furlongs (one furlong being about an eighth of a mile). Some races are on grass, and some are on dirt. It all concludes with the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is the “main event” of the championships. “We’re lucky to have the Breeders’ Cup right here in California again this year,” said Jose Contreras, America’s Best Racing West Coast Ambassador. “You’re going to see the best of the best compete—the horses are beautiful, the parties that

go on during the Breeders’ Cup are great, and admission into the event is not that expensive compared to other big sporting events.” Unlike other big days in sports like the Super Bowl, where cost of entry is thousands of dollars, a mere of Santa Anita Park Breeders’ Cup

with musical performances, dunk tanks, bounce houses, carnival rides, and even a petting zoo, but horse racing is at the center of it all. “I think the cool thing is to experience horse racing live,” Contreras said. “I rarely want to go to a baseball or football game because for one, it’s expensive, and two, the experience of watching a sport on television is better because of the quality of coverage. The only sport I really truly enjoy watching live is horse racing—there’s nothing else like it.”

You can’t just go into the players’ locker room when attending a baseball or football game; however, admission to the horse races buys athletes. The paddock area is where the horses are saddled before going to the track to race. There, you can shake hands with the jockeys, get an autograph or two, and view the equine athletes up close and personal. The jockeys are given “riders up” and they hop into the saddle. Professional jockeys who ride the horses in the races usually weigh around 110 to 115 pounds. The horses they ride on are around 1,200 pounds. Once on the racetrack, the horses enter what’s called a “post parade,” where fans can see the horses up close before the race begins. Often, the horses wear “blinkers,” which are masks that help them focus. They also wear “shadow rolls” on the bridge of their nose. This gear encourages the horse to keep his head low while running. The horses warm up around the track and then enter the starting gate. The Handicapper and America’s Best of horse racing especially titillating. essentially ‘own’ a racehorse,” said Tordjman. “You can own a feeling of the horse running, the athlete running, like it’s your horse for that minute or two. When you see that horse go by, he wins, and you had him on your ticket, there’s no more exhilarating feeling out there.” The most basic bets in horse racing are the win, place, and show bets. These bets require a minimum investment of two dollars. If you put two dollars to “win” on a horse in a order to cash a ticket. If you wager a two dollars bet on a horse to ‘place’ you win some cash if the horse

horse to ‘show,’ you earn money if the “The cost of entry is really low, and that should be appealing to a college student who presumably doesn’t have much disposable income,” said Tordjman. “In a casino, you can lose 50 to 100 dollars in minutes playing blackjack or craps, whereas in horse racing you can potentially win thousands of dollars with a mere ten cent Superfecta.” At the racetrack, you can play this bet, you must correctly pick the order to win the bet. It’s extremely hard to do, but the base investment for the Superfecta is only a dime. How much money you can win in a race depends on the odds of the horses. The odds are made by the racetrack each day as “the morning line odds,” which are the odds that appear in your track program. You can purchase a racing program at the entrance of the track. The program tells you how many races are scheduled to run that day (usually eight races are run on weekdays and nine or ten races are run on weekends). The program will also tell you the names of the horses in each race, their ‘connections’ (the horses’ jockey, trainer, and owner combination), and their morning line odds. The betting odds on the you see in the program could be listed at two to one which will return six the horse’s odds could go down if the betting public thinks the horse is likely to win; thus, a horse could only return around three dollars on a two dollar investment. Another basic bet includes the Exacta, which is a bet where you must select the

FEATURE

Music

Fantastic Soundtracks and Where to Find Them

Vangelis manages to create a futuristic landscape not unlike Daft Punk’s “Tron” but decades before. The OST was released 10 years after the movie premiered.

indie-folk to make his movie emotionally charged. Garden State’s musical selection is acoustic, relaxing and beautiful.

By Mena de Ariño

Illustration by Claire DeWilde

Acclaimed around the globe, and as we all know, a commission to Daft Punk–Disney’s Tron hit the nail on the head. This OST is

An Oscar-worthy masterpiece by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame; it is intriguing, dark and edgy like the plot.

came from.

Isaac Hayes created this soundtrack, making it one of the most memorable Blaxplotation OSTs from the era and making him one of the most fruitful producers at the time.

Prince may be the butt of many jokes but he is undeniably a musical genius. It wasn’t only a fantastic soundtrack but also one of the best selling albums of all time.

Keeping up with the Isaac Hayes theme, it also includes RZA and Nancy Sinatra in a compelling OST. Along with “Pulp Fiction,” it is one of Tarantino’s best soundtracks.

is another director who manages to become a DJ on each of her movies. Phoenix and Air are part of the bands to make this OST an atmospheric experience.

Star Lord’s “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” is a perfect mix of classic rock, including David Bowie and The Runaways. Each song was handpicked

includes some of the biggest anthems from the 1960s, including “Born To Be Wild”; each song selected to be a social commentary adding to the story.

Entertainment

From Paper to the Silver Screen Gone Girl “I fear this man may kill me. My name is Amy Elliot, and I have disappeared. I’ll leave it to

By Camille Hove

Gone Girl inside your head and shares aloud what you

dark and mysterious style.

or not.” Gone Girl Gone Gir the mind and acts as a confessional for those The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo),

storyteller, and her screenplay is as visually dynamic as her novel.

as the tale unfolds. Gone Girl tells the story of People need to relate to characters, which Her story crashes and collides with tension entries tell a more feminine tale. Cops

artfully done. While masterfully done, Gone Girl

Literature

The King Is in the House Stephen King reigns over the horror genre By Bailey Mount

Illustration by Rose Feduk

All work and no play may make you a dull boy, but when you are the Master of Horror, you can hardly be called “dull.” From Carrie to IT, Stephen King has frightened generations with his dark literary terrors for forty years. He has proven that the most disturbing things can happen in the smallest of towns and to the most ordinary of people. He has shown us that sometimes, those people are the real monsters. People often presume that The Shining was his first novel. However, everyone frequently forgets the brilliant work of blood and emotional turmoil that was his first published novel: Carrie. The most terrifying part of this story is not when Carrie White, an ostracized teenage girl, discovers she has telekinetic powers and murders everyone at her senior prom in cold blood. It is not when her frenzied religious mother stabs her in the back, Carrie stopping her heart in retribution. The most chilling part of Carrie is the fact that it ALMOST WAS NOT WRITTEN. This was Stephen King’s first novel and he did not believe in his abilities. He threw the first draft in the trash at one point. The fact that the man who would become the main authority on all things horror almost abandoned his first novel is more horrific than his stories. Next, in the literary milestone, came The Shining. Like Carrie, it dealt with forces outside of the character’s control. In this case, Jack Torrance battled and lost against the demonic entities occupying the Overlook hotel. Though the ghosts we as the reader encountered were brutal, the real monster was Jack himself. His frequent battles with his newfound sobriety, as well as the stress of being an aging writer, provided the ghosts with the perfect breeding ground in which their bloodlust could be slaked. There was no monster making the bump in the night. Rather, it was a man pushed to the brink by evil spirits with a fire axe making it. Sufficient to say, Stephen King took horror and turned it on its head with one fell swoop of a key on paper. A ravenous

plague decimated the entire world in The Stand. Cujo took the lovable family dog and turned him into a rabies infested literal bloodhound. The adoring fan of a book series becomes a dangerous captor to a writer much like King himself in Misery. None were your typical horror stories and this is what makes King’s writings both a masterful craft and a gift-wrapped nightmare for those of us who think that chainsaw wielding men are the only danger out there. King makes readers wonder, “What the hell are the people around me really capable of?” He makes you panic, scream, and wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. He does all this without a typical horror monster. Even when King did submit to the standard horror monster, he instead created a creature that not only maimed and killed its victims, but destroyed them psychologically. IT. I could go on for hours about IT. The nightmares coupled with my was not because the monster was a freaking killer clown (although it did not help.) No, it was because it targeted children solely for the purpose that children had the mental capabilities to imagine their worst fears. Pennywise the Clown—who actually ended up being an alien type thing—could snap people’s minds like a toothpick. It was a monster that would play with its food first and derive a sick enjoyment. This thing could only be killed with silver bullets ,and even then, it would paralyze you with fear before you tried. Stephen King set the official standard for killer clowns with IT. American Horror Story has nothing on him. So take a break, Dean Koontz. Anne Rice, stick to those vampire books. And Mr. King? Keep being the reason we cannot sleep at night. Readers, ask for this dark prince’s books instead of candy when you go out this Halloween.

Literature

Something Wicca This Way Comes Spellbinding Wytches hits the shelves

I was looking for a spooky tale to jump into this month, and as I walked through the aisle of my local comic shop, this very appealing cover caught my eye. I saw a light shining from behind the trees creating a silhouette of a girl/witch in the dark, blue-hued woods, as blood seeped from one of the surrounding trees. Wytches is a recently released comic title written by Scott Snyder, Drawn by Jock, and colored by Matt Hollingsworth. the cover is a black page with the various

“Wytches” possibly?) as if telling you to forget everything you have ever known about witches; the Wytches in this story are a “huge and ancient and primal and deeply evil…” lurks in his lovely note during the last pages. In his note, Snyder cites some of his inspirations for Wytches stemming from when he was a young boy. We get a glimpse of horror right away trapped in a hollow tree, pleading to her child, “Someone pledged me to them! I was

pledged! Please Tim! Get me out!” but Little Tim uses the rock in his hands to bust her face, and with a straight face speaks, “Pledged is Pledged.” This introduces the Cray family

far as we know)—who have recently moved to a dumpy looking house near the woods. The reason for the move is introduced when a girl in Sail’s class asks her if she killed the

By Mario Lopez

The art in this issue is amazing. Every page is brought to life with varying color palettes I don’t think I would have enjoyed the issue without the terrifyingly complementary art.

of 2014, who don’t seem as cray, cray. family—Sail, a teen with a troubled past; artist isolated from society in a cabin with his

of the disappearance of Sail’s bully, Annie, in the woods. The family has run away from the problem, but it seems that they have not run far enough, as we are reminded during one of

do it! The only unfortunate thing about this issue is that we have to wait another

the comic. A deer appears into to their home making a disturbing EEeeEEcccHHHH

little Tim became so cold and distant from his mother. The comic will surely contrast

One of the moments that stuck was when Charlie tells Sail, “Dammit Sail! Thinking about doing something, and doing it aren’t the same thing, All right?! Just stop it!” She blames herself for the death of her bully, Annie, who keeps haunting her, and contributes to her

react to her if she encounters these Wytches, or if she continues feeling guilt for the incident. She is connected to the Wytches in some way,

killing me. We also have to wait to get more

mysterious Wytches, and will hopefully be used as a device to help us understand who these ancient creatures are. I’ll leave you with a continuation of Snyder’s quote, “… [The Wytches] can give you almost anything you want. And they’re out there, waiting for them what they want…They have to eat, after all. So who would you give them to get what you want? To cure a sick loved one? To cure yourself? To get what you’ve always wanted? A neighbor? A loved one? Who would you pledge?” I can’t wait until November!

Travel

Euro of Long Beach Chronicles of a British girl in the United States By Amal Molly Osman

On August 17 of 2014, I made the very long journey from London, United Kingdom to Long Beach, California, and it has been nothing short of an adventure so far. I had this pre-conceived concept of how the United States would be like—ashamedly taken from movies, TV shows, books, and talking to people who’ve been before. Some concepts have been proven pretty right but much of the American culture and lifestyle has taken me by surprise in the best way. nice and helpful the average person is here! London can be a pretty cold city to live in, and the people can equal the weather sometimes with their reserved demeanor. If I smile at someone on the street in London, they would think I was strange or weird, but here, it is welcomed. Loving the friendly and happy vibes so far! (United States vs. United Kingdom 1-0) I’m currently a junior at CSULB studying English and American Literature. Back in England, I study at the University of Kent, which is based in the city of Canterbury— an hour or so outside of London. School is a completely different experience to what I am used to at home; the system here is unlike the British system in almost all aspects. The method of teaching there is so different! Most of my lectures consisted of about 250+ students jammed in a lecture hall for an hour, listening to the professor dictate his presentation as we take notes. If my description makes it sound boring, multiply that by ten and you have the reality. Since I came here, I haven’t seen any classes with more than approximately 50 students. I find professors here to be far more engaging whilst they teach, partly a consequence of having smaller groups to teach which allows them to engage with

nearly all the students in the classroom, but it is more than that here the professors seem passionate about teaching! (United States vs. United Kingdom 2-0) trying to adjust here. One experience I haven’t managed to get the hang of here to the grocery store to buy some chicken to cook, I had the shock of my life. I saw a packaged chicken breast about the size of my face. What in the world could they have pumped into that piece of chicken to make it so abnormally large! And nowhere in that free-range chicken. Since going to that store, I haven’t encountered many places that sell normal-looking chicken at student

is except when I go to In-n-Out because that place is too delicious to pass on. (United States vs. United Kingdom 2-1) Tea. Where are the PG-Tips at America? Need I say more…I think not. [Editor’s Note: Girl...what are PG-Tips?] (United States vs. United Kingdom 2-2) As well as the constant sunshine keeping serotonin levels high, the best thing about living here is how close the beach is! Nothing has paralleled the beauty of seeing the sunset whilst sitting on the warm sand. It’s pure bliss when coming from the grey and gloomy scene of London. (United States vs. United Kingdom 3-2) Apart from the clichéd troubles of not being understood when asking for water or constantly being asked if I’ve met the Queen, I can say my experience so far hasn’t been cliché at all. I can’t wait for what the United States has planned for me for the rest of the year. You are winning so far.

Enjoying her new life, one of Molly’s new hobbies is relaxing at the beach during a sunny day (top); Molly enjoying one of the student parties with one of her friends (middle); living in Southern California, Molly is certainly taking advantage of seeing as many new things as possible (bottom)

Lifestyle

Express Yourself Finding your passion through the arts I didn’t discover my love for art until I started taking lessons. But once I did, I knew it was for me. My parents noticed my natural talent for art, especially painting, at a young age. They signed me up for art lessons when I was Art Supplies. It was once a week after school, and each week, I remember it was the day I looked forward to the most. My art teachers, Tim and Marty, taught me everything I know about acrylic painting. They always told me how impressed they were by my work Ever since their teachings, acrylic painting has been my favorite medium. At this point, I knew art was something I was really passionate about. From my sophomore year to senior year of high school, I took a grand total of four art classes. I began my college career at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington in 2012, and I’m currently majoring in Biology and minoring in Studio Art. I studied abroad for the Fall 2013 semester at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, Australia. While class. This class focused on life drawing and our assignments varied--one was to visit the exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Since the life drawing class, I’ve taken ART 101 and I’m currently enrolled in ART 102 at UNCW. Art 102 is a challenge because all of our projects are three dimensional, and previously I’d never made anything 3D in my life. But I’ve really enjoyed it so far, and I’m thinking that working in 3D

By Madison Dunning

may be my new favorite way to make art! My favorite place to paint or work is in any wide open studio with many other students. I also really enjoy painting with other people, which is why I’m much more successful in art classes than working alone. One day, I can’t wait to have a huge studio at my own house. Most of all, I love painting animals, nature, and especially landscapes. The majority of my work is hanging up in my friends’ and family’s houses, especially at my parents’ house in Burlington, NC. I paint for other people. My artwork is not something I feel the need to sell, but I love giving my art as gifts for the people I love. I believe art should be relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. Art is my therapy, and I’m glad to share my talent with others. I can’t wait to take as many types of art classes and learn as much as I can.

By Cole Hughey “How can I be better?” I hear this all of the time. I say it’s simple: get your mind right. In order to be successful, to be in shape, and to be admired, a standard must be set: this is who you are and these are the results that you will have. Let’s repeat that: this is who you are and these are the results that you will have. Contrary to what is often carelessly emphasized that you must set goals and

class! I’m sure my talents will continue to grow, and I will see my artwork change over the years. As for my future, I am considering professor at a university. My piece of advice: I strongly encourage you to take at least one studio art class, and learn something new about yourself.

left); Dunning with her 3D Australian

are goals if your mind is not with them? And if your mind is indeed with them, haven’t you already set the goal? If you want to be in business— you’re going to learn about business and go get your damn MBA. No test or essay or 100-page-reading-assignment is going to change that. If you want to have six-pack abs—you’ll do sit-ups everyday until you do, because hey, that’s your standard. Realize now that the process is mental. That being intelligent, or attractive, is nothing more than a conscious decision to create your identity. Compare this decision to goals set for reasons other than your own. If you want to get in shape because so and so thinks you should, will you still when you’re tired and sore, and you haven’t seen any results yet? Hell no you’re not. You’re thinking “screw this noise, to hell with what they think”! My point is that you can do anything you want to do, regardless of other’s opinions. If you don’t want something better. Accept yourself, be you, and you’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted. As Charles Atlas once said: “Step by step and the thing is done.”

Food

The Best of Bixby Knolls Bake ‘n’ Broil

By Sarah Towler

Baba Ghanouj By Janea Wilson -

Food

Wilmore

By Beatriz Villa

After our trip to Barcelona, Mayra and I were left feeling jaded; the exotic food, the delicious wine, and the wild nights were nothing more than mere memories. Our dream vacation was over, and we were left empty. We returned to work and school: our mundane lives. In an attempt to lift our mood, we decided to walk down Atlantic Street in Bixby Knolls, which is a great place to go if you want to relax during a lazy Wednesday afternoon. We parked on San Antonio (in Barcelona, we lived on San Antonio), and began our trip walking south on Atlantic. To be honest, we had no idea where we were headed; we just knew that we desperately needed a drink. We

Malloy’s, Panda Garden, and Aura Thai. It appeared there was a lot to try, we decided. Eventually we walked into a wine bar called Wilmore, and we were instantly pleased. Wilmore was darkly lit, and had a rustic modern feel to it. Behind the bar were sat at the bar, in the corner seats. The owner, Ernie, who happened to be the bartender, showed us the happy hour menu. We each ordered a glass of refreshing chardonnay. He asked if we lived around the area, and how we heard about his establishment. Ernie wasn’t hitting on us, just being friendly. There were various other people in the bar, all of

jazz show at seven. Ernie hosts free live shows quite frequently, and I am sure they are sensational, as was our experience at Wilmore. If you have a free afternoon, I recommend you look into Bixby Knolls’ wine

that. We walked while pointing out all the cute shops we wanted to visit and restaurants we wanted to try: a tea shop, Porky’s Pizza, EJ

people chatted about friends and family, and the atmosphere was inviting. On our second glass of wine, which was

selection of delicious wines, and live jazz music in a friendly neighborhood. Mayra and I walked out of Wilmore feeling slightly

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on the house, we made a couple of friends, a couple in their late forties perhaps. After hearing about our Spanish adventure, they recommended we try the cheese plate because it had delicious Spanish chorizo. With every bite of cheese and sip of wine, time began to slip away from us, and before I wish we would have gotten there at

intoxicated, and a little less depressed. Visiting Wilmore had brought back a touch of our vacation, something we had so desperately been missing.

Volume 75 Issue 9

Monday, October 20, 2014

LBUNION.COM

DISCLAIMER: Edward Darko with advice here: They’re all part of this great big conspiracy of bullshit. And they’re scared of people like you, because those bullshitters know that you’re smarter than all of them. You know what you say to people like that? Hmm? “Fuck you.” Fight the bullshitters and write for Grunion. This page is satire/parody and does not represent ASI nor the CSULB campus. Submit pie via email to grunion@lbunion.com.

Horrid, Horrible, Horror-scopes Aquarius: Old memories are dredging up from your past. Literally. No, really the surface. You may want to weigh it down, or bury it somewhere else.

Taurus: Try not to get caught in a maze this week. Those around you will think you are the monster on duty. Bring earplugs to drown out the screaming. Gemini: Not a good week to be a double. Your

Leo: Break out the candy and scare away the alpha wolf in your pack. Virgo horror fright night no problem. Remember the

mirror and realize the original you is amazing Pisces

be the star of the sequel.

by Claire Voyance

a bit of a surprise. Why not be a kind host and hold an séance to get to know one another?

Cancer

Aries dress up and be the talk of the costume party.

sudden-death match easily. Oh wait, it was only a game.

Scorpio: That rattling in your closet is getting

Libra Throw a huge bash and celebrate. Remember, nothing says fun like Ouija boards and demonic

closet with caution. Sagittarius: Hope your aim is as good as your sign. Zombies are headed to your doorstep. No wait, that is a trick or treater. Just throw candy

Capricorn worthy of the throne. Go forth and release your jack-o-lanterns on the town.

Angelina Jolie Elected New Head of the CDC The old head, Tom Frieden, has died in a tragic accident concerning the small

to be true. Therefore, she has asked the

of President Obama. He refuses to admit her into his illustrious white home and kicks her out onto the lawn. On lookers take note of the new action, and begin to sprint toward her. Now forced to face her public, she willingly Now under attack of the disease, she screams, sympathy for the woman who dismissed all of

by Issac Cox

Jolie states, in her

make sure none of the actors in Hollywood or elsewhere in the world contract this horrible of humans of our caliber. I make it my personal

suffering of the little people. I myself, a highly esteemed newsman, is of course protected microphone to Jolie. and should therefore be grateful, but I do not want to be slaughtered once the walls crumble

gather all adoptable children for Jolie, but has protested against her apathy for the rest of cannot only think of herself in times like these. and famous. Now that the majority of the rich

INSIDE

PETCO FALL 2014 DOG ACCESSORIES WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.

RENAISSANCE FAIR IN THE ADOPTS NEW LANDLORD

MIDWEST

RIHANNA FOUND LOVE IN A DOPELESS PLACE

LOCAL ASTRONAUT ARRESTED FOR ENTERING WRONG BLACK HOLE